The 2025 federal election was a roller-coaster ride like no other in living memory. Just a few months ago, it seemed that Pierre Poilievre was guaranteed to be the next Prime Minister. Right-wing populism had shaped the dominant political narrative that blamed the Trudeau Liberals for every aspect of pain felt by ordinary Canadians. And then Donald Trump happened, and everything changed. Uniting against Trump became the defining issue.
Mark Carney’s ascendancy and the reversal of fortunes for the federal Liberals was also marked by a distinct shift to the centre-right – rolling back the carbon tax and capital gains reform, embracing deregulation and subsidies for private investments in key sectors, and placating the financiers of Bay Street. Once Trump became the ballot question for so many voters, the Conservatives were denied victory.
While many are relieved that Poilievre will not be Prime Minister, the loss of party status for the NDP is a real blow, and the threat this poses to progressive politics cannot be underestimated. Social justice movements have always partnered with elected champions who can bring our issues into a legislature, and that has been most effective when they hold the balance of power. Both the NDP and Greens suffer from our flawed first-past-the-post electoral system.
The minority Carney government will want to move fast to implement its platform, while readying a response to the next phase of Trump’s agenda. Progressive forces must now engage with renewed energy on contested terrain, including climate action, public service, economic policy, and Canadian sovereignty. At the Council, we know that protecting the commons is as vital as ever.
Corporate interests will be relentless in pursuing their own agenda, and nobody should expect the conservative populists to stand down after the election loss. They felt a lot of power during the last year and will no doubt attack any serious attempt to curb fossil fuel emissions or tackle corporate profiteering.
While this election may be finished, the struggle is not over. In the face of growing inequities and the aggression of Trump, we need to demand real action from the Carney government. We thank everyone who got involved in the election – knocking on doors, making calls, talking to family and neighbours, as well as those champions who served in public office. In this uncertain world, nobody can take democracy for granted. Defending the public good means all of us need to keep building movements for social and economic justice in the months ahead.
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